Golf jacket with grip pocket

ABSTRACT

A garment including an outer shell, an inner liner, and a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club, the pocket being disposed between the outer shell and the liner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a jacket and, in particular, a golf jacket including a pouch for protecting the grip of a golf club during inclement weather.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

All-weather jackets typically have a variety of constructions, such as an inner liner and an outer shell, to help insulate the wearer and keep out water and wind, respectively. Jackets generally include a torso portion and sleeves that are designed to fit smoothly on a wearer when they are standing upright. When the wearer is a golfer, however, the wearer may experience a number of shortcomings associated with conventional jackets.

Because proper golf stance requires the wearer to bend forward at the waist and abdominal sections of the body, most jackets tend to ‘bunch up’ at undesirable locations when the posture of the wearer is other than upright. This ‘bunching’ interferes with a golf swing as fabric of the jacket protrudes into the arcuate path through which the arms of the golfer must travel during the golf swinging motion.

Additionally, while many jackets sufficiently protect the wearer from the elements, golf is a unique sport in that it is often played in inclement weather, requiring substantial protection from outerwear. Conventional golf outerwear, however, does not adequately protect the golfer's equipment, in particular, the grips of the club. The golf grip is the critical link between the golfer's hands and the club—if the grips get wet, the grip surface can become quite slippery, making it difficult at best for the golfer to make a proper golf swing without losing grip on the club. When playing in the rain, many golfers try to carry a towel over the grip or hold the grip against the shaft of an umbrella to protect the grip from getting wet. These attempted solutions, however, are cumbersome and the extraneous items certainly must be discarded prior to making the golf shot. Typically, the time between discarding any protective items and actually making the golf shot is more than sufficient for the grip to get wet. Some golfers even awkwardly attempt to ‘hide’ the grip from the elements under a shirt or jacket. Since shirts are generally tucked into the golfer's pants and many jackets are relatively form fitting and provide little room for the protection of golf club grips, there remains a need, therefore, for a manner of keeping a golf grip dry during inclement weather that is simple, easy to use, and doesn't require any hindering protective items, such as a towel or an umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a garment including an outer shell, an inner liner, and a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club, the pocket being disposed between the outer shell and the liner. In a preferred embodiment, the pocket includes a sheath including a closed end and an open end, the open end being attached to a downward-facing aperture in the shell or the liner. The aperture typically includes a closure, such as a snap, hook-and-loop (Velcro®), or a zipper.

The garment may include sleeves for covering a wearer's arms (or a portion of the arms, such as in a vest). Preferably, the sleeves cover the wearer's entire arms. The sleeves may also be removable, such as by snaps or zippers circumscribing the arm near the shoulder of the wearer resulting in a vest-type garment once the sleeves are removed.

So that the garment is suitable for use in extreme weather, at least one of the pocket and the outer shell should be substantially waterproof, such that the golf grip remains dry while being protected within the sheath.

The outer shell, when present, typically includes an outside surface facing away from the liner and an inside surface facing the liner so as to define an inner space therebetween, the shell including first and second anchored portions and defining an opening in the first anchored portion, the shell also including a tensionable portion disposed between the anchored portions, wherein the shell and liner are configured for encircling the wearer.

Additionally, the garment may further include a cinch, such as an elastic band disposed in the inner space and attached to first and second ends which are anchored to the first and second anchored portions, respectively, such that a closed path encircling the wearer is defined through the cinch and the tensionable portion. Preferably, the tensionable portion is located at a front of the abdomen section. The cinch may also include an anchor securable to the first end and dimensioned larger than the first opening such that the anchor is prevented from passing through the first opening.

In one embodiment, the shell includes a pocket on the outside thereof; and the first opening is disposed inside the pocket such that the first end and the anchor are operable for releasably securing to each other from inside the pocket. Generally, the anchor is attached to the shell to retain the anchor when the first end is pulled from outside the shell. The elastic band typically has a band length between the ends and a band height perpendicular thereto and the inner space has a space height parallel to the band height and at least three times as large as the band height.

The garment may further include a closure attached to the liner and the shell in the tensionable portion, the closed path being defined when the closure is closed. The cinch may include an anchor anchored to the first end and the first anchored portion, and the anchor is connected with the first end and the first anchored portion such that the anchor remains associated therewith when the closure is open for automatically stretching the elastic band around a wearer when the closure is closed.

The garment also typically includes an upper body section including a torso portion and a sleeve having a shoulder, an elbow, and a wrist. Together these include a plurality of panels including first and second panels that extend from the shoulder to the wrist and are attached to each other by a back seam. The shoulder is generally attached to the torso portion such that the back seam runs from a back of the shoulder to a back of the elbow to a back of the wrist, and the first and second panels have back edges joined at the back seam, each back edge having a convex curvature of a radius that decreases towards the elbow.

The present invention is also directed to a garment including a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club. In one embodiment, the pocket includes a sheath including a closed end and an open end, the open end being secured to a downward-facing aperture in the garment.

The present invention is further directed to a golf jacket including an outer shell, an inner liner, configured to circumscribe the torso of a person and to define a gap between the shell and the liner; a vertically-extending zipper; and a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club, the pocket being disposed in the gap between the shell and the liner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cutaway front view of a preferred embodiment of a jacket constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway back view of the jacket;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of a portion of the jacket;

FIG. 4 is a blown up cross-sectional view of a portion of the front of the jacket;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the back of the jacket;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of a portion of the jacket with an open pocket; and

FIG. 7 is a cutaway front view of an alternative embodiment of a jacket constructed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-7 and, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 7, the garment of the present invention, while preferably a jacket, can be any type of garment, such as a windbreaker, a ¾-length parka, a vest, a short-sleeve pullover, a wind shirt, or a full-length coat. More preferably, the garment is a jacket 10 including an outer shell 12, an inner liner 14. Most preferably, the garment is a jacket having a plurality of liners and an outer shell, configured for a golfer, such that it includes a pocket 11 extending vertically upward for receiving the grip of a golf club 19 to protect the grip from the elements prior to the golfer making a golf swing.

In a preferred embodiment, the pocket comprises a sheath 13 comprising a closed distal end 15 and an open proximate end 17, the proximate end being vertically below and substantially collinear to an axis defined by the closed end, the open end, and the sheath connecting the two. The sheath can be made of any material including, but not limited to, synthetic or natural fibers, fleece, plush, or waterproof materials. Preferably, the sheath has a length sufficiently long enough to receive and cover an entire golf grip. The open end is preferably attached to a downward-facing aperture such that the sheath is exposed to the outside of the garment. If the jacket includes a liner and an outer shell, the pocket is preferably disposed between the outer shell and the liner. Preferably, the aperture is in the shell, liner, or both. The aperture preferably includes a closure including, but not limited to, snaps, hook-and-loop (Velcro®), or zippers. Unlike conventional pockets, the pocket extending vertically upward for receiving the grip of a golf club would not be suitable for carrying items (i.e., items would fall out given the vertical orientation of the pocket combined with the effect of gravity).

The garment can be of any design, but preferably includes sleeves covering a portion of a wearer's arm. Preferably, the sleeves are of a length sufficient to cover the entire length of the wearer's arms. In one embodiment, the sleeves are removable, such as by snaps or zippers circumscribing the arm near the shoulder of the wearer resulting in a vest-type garment once the sleeves are removed. The garment may also have a plurality of pockets positioned at a variety of locations. Preferably, the garment has two pockets, in addition to the sheath, positioned on the front of the jacket for receiving the wearer's hands. The garment, if a jacket-type garment, preferably has closures, such as snaps, buttons, Velcro®, or a zipper. The garment, if a pullover-type garment, preferably has no full-length closures, but may have a partial opening having closures near the top of the garment.

So that the garment is suitable for use in extreme weather, at least one of the sheath and the outer shell should be substantially waterproof, such that the golf grip remains dry while being protected within the sheath. For example, the jacket outer liner or the sheath may include a waterproof barrier layer such as Gore-Tex®.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, jacket 10 includes a shell 12 and a liner 14, which is preferably water resistant. Forming a torso portion of the jacket 10 are front and back shell panels 16 and 18 of the shell 12 and front and back liner panels 20 and 22 of the liner 14. Each of the panels 16, 18, 20, and 22 of the torso preferably includes a plurality of smaller panels selected for styling of the jacket 10 and to provide a desired shape. A closure, preferably a main zipper 24, is attached to the liner 14 and shell 12 and extends down the center of the front of the jacket 10 to separably join the front panels 16 and 20. At the bottom of the torso portion is bottom hem 26 that includes an elastic portion 28 to drawl the bottom hem 26 snugly around the wearer. When the main zipper 24 is closed, the shell 12 and the liner 14 are configured to encircle a wearer.

Jacket 10 has sleeves 30 which include sleeve portions 32 and 34 of the shell 12 and liner 14. Cuffs 36 attached to the ends of the sleeves are preferably adjustable in circumference to fit various wrist sizes. Thus, cuffs 36 preferably are elastic and have flaps 38 that snap to one of at least two locations in the cuff 36 to vary the size thereof.

The liner 14 and shell 12 are sewn together at edges 40 thereof. Sewn edges 40 are located where the sleeves 30 meet the cuffs 36, on each side of the main zipper 24, around the collar 41 of the jacket 10, and at the bottom hem 26. Between the sewn edges 40, the shell 12 and the liner 14 are substantially free from each other. The inside of the shell 12 and liner 14 thus define an inner space 42 therebetween.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, on the inside of the shell 12, which faces the liner 14, and within the inner space 42, the shell includes reinforcing webs 44. The webs 44 are substantially triangularly shaped, preferably pie-slice shaped, with a convexly curved base and are sewn to the front shell panels 16 along the curved bases 46, with the bases 46 facing the main zipper 24. The webs 44 have web openings 48 about which are attached eyelets 50. The curved bases 46 are wider than the web openings 48. Shell openings 52 defined in the front shell panels 16 are also reinforced by eyelets 50 and are substantially aligned with the web openings 48.

On the outside of the shell 12, which faces away from the liner 14, straps 54 are sewn to the front shell panels 16, opposite the centers of the curved bases 46 of the webs 44. The straps 54 are attached to anchors, which are preferably chordlocks 56. Chordlocks 56 each include a housing 58 and a clamping portion 60, which together define a chordlock opening 62 and which are biased relative to each other towards a clamping position by spring 64, positioned therebetween. When tensioned away from the main zipper 24, the web opening 48, the shell opening 52, and the chordlock opening 62 are substantially aligned with each other.

The shell 12 additionally includes pockets 66 formed by pocket covers 68. The shell openings 52 are disposed within the pockets 66. Pocket zippers 70 of the shell 12 selectively open or close the pockets 66. A pocket flap 72 on the outside of the shell 72 covers each pocket zipper 70.

The jacket 10 also has a cinch 74, including an elastic band 76 and draw chords 78, which is also preferably elastic. The elastic band 76 is disposed in the inner space 42. The draw chords 78 are passed through eyelets 79 in the ends of the elastic band 76 and sewn back upon themselves. The draw chords 78 are received through the web opening 48, shell opening 52, and chordlock opening 62.

The elastic band 76 has a band height 80 perpendicular to the length of the band between the eyelets 79. The inner space 42 has a height 81, which is preferably at least three times as large as the band height 80. This retains maximum mobility when a wearer is practicing a sport such as golf.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, a loop 82 of fabric is sewn to the liner at stitching 84 located at the top of the loop 82. The elastic band 76 is received through the loop 82 and sewn thereto at stitching 88. The loop 82 fixes the elastic band 76 to the liner 14 to retain the cinch 74 around the abdomen portion of the jacket 10, preventing the cinch 74 from sliding vertically from its ideal position.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the one of the draw chords 78 anchored to the shell 12 by one of the chordlocks 56. The chordlock 56 is dimensioned larger than the shell opening 52 and is thus prevented from passing therethrough. The chordlock 56 is clamped to the drawchord 78 and the strap 54. The elastic band 76 is stretched by a distance from a naturally assumed length, and the drawchord 78 pulls the chordlock 56 against the shell opening 52. As the chordlock 56 is not receivable through the shell opening 52, the drawchord 78 is anchored to the shell 12 in a first position relative thereto. The area about the shell opening 52 thus forms an anchored portion of the jacket 10. The portion of the drawchord 78 on the outside of the shell 12 remains inside the pocket 66 and hidden from view. The drawchord 78 also pulls against the web 44, which reinforces the shell 12. A similar arrangement is present on the other side of the jacket 10.

A closed path extending around the abdomen portion of the jacket 10 and encircling the abdomen of the wearer 92 is defined by the cinch 74 and by a tensionable portion 94 of the shell 12, which is located at the front of the jacket 10 between the locations at which the drawchords 78 are anchored. The tensionable portion 94 preferably extends across more than a third of the front of the jacket 10. The closed path extends across the zipper 24. As the elastic band 76 and sections of the drawchords 78 are stretched, tension is produced along the closed path. As a result, the liner 14 and the tensionable front portion 94 of the shell 12 are drawn against the wearer 92. The wide base 46 of the web 44 effectively widens the closed path by spreading the tension produced by the stretched cinch 74 across a greater area of the front of the shell 12, widening the tensionable portion 94. Preferably, the base 46 of the web 44 is at least about three times wider than drawchord 78, the shell and web openings 48 and 52, or the eyelets 50.

As a result, fullness is removed from the front of the shell 12, which is pulled out of the way of the wearer's golf swing. The remainder of the shell 12 on the sides and back of the jacket 10 is free from the tension of the cinch 74 and thus remains full.

FIG. 6 illustrates how the cinch 74 is adjusted. The main zipper 24 is still closed and the jacket 10 is still being worn. The pocket zipper 70, however, is opened so that the drawchord 78 and the chordlock 56 are manipulable from the outside of the jacket 10. The drawchord 78 is pulled out from the pocket 66 as illustrated by arrow 96.

The strap 54 retains the chordlock 56 in the pocket 66 and relatively near the shell and web openings 52 and 48. The configuration of the clamping portion 60 and the stiffness of the spring 64 are such that the chordlock 56 resists displacement of the drawchord 78 therethrough resulting from the cinch 74 tension, but such that the drawchord 78 may be pulled further through the chordlock 56 when biased with a force greater than achievable by the cinch 74. Thus, by pulling the drawchord 78 out from the pocket, as shown, the elastic band 76 is further stretch. When the cinch 74 is being stretched as shown by pulling the drawchords 78, the chordlock 56 and the tensionable portion 94 of the shell 12, including the web 44, resist the pulling.

In FIG. 6, the chordlock 56 is shown stretched by a greater distance than it is in FIG. 3. When the drawchord 78 is released by the wearer, the chordlock 56 again clamps against the drawchord 78 and anchors the drawchord 78 to the shell 12 in a second position relative to thereto. With the drawchord 78 anchored in the second position, the cinch 74 pulled tighter about the abdomen of the wearer than when the drawchord 8 is in the first position relative to the shell 12.

To loosen the cinch 74, the wearer opens the pocket 66 and presses the top 98 of the chordlock clamping portion 60 into the housing 58, releasing the grip of the chordlock 56 on the drawchord 78 and allowing the elastic member 76 to contract, drawing the drawchord 78 back through the chordlock 56 to a looser position.

When the wearer unzips the main zipper 24 and removes the jacket 10, opening the previously closed path, the chordlocks 56 remain associated with the drawchord 78 and the shell 12 such that no adjustments need to be completed prior to reclosing the main zipper 24. In the preferred embodiment, the chordlocks 56 remain secured to the drawchord 78 so that the elastic band 76 is automatically stretched when the main zipper 24 is again closed about wearer.

Furthermore, any cinch 74 adjustments can be performed while the jacket 10 is being worn. Consequently, the wearer can feel changes is cinch 74 tension as they are made, and need not engage in a trial-and-error iterative approach that would be required if the jacket needed to be removed for adjustments. In addition, the cinch 74 tension is infinitely variable.

Referring to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 7, jacket 100 includes resilient tension-spreading vertical bars 102 sewn to the inside of the shell 12 on each side of the main zipper 24. Thus, bars 102 are disposed in series with each other along the closed path. For clarity, the jacket pockets are not shown in FIG. 7. The bars 102 distribute the tensile force of the cinch 74 over a large tensionable portion 104 of the jacket 100 as the cinch 74 pulls the shell eyelets 50 away from each other.

One of ordinary skill in the art can envision numerous variations and modifications. For example, the cinch may be anchored to the shell by hook and loop fasteners permitting the cinch to be anchored at a plurality of locations on the shell. All of these modifications are contemplated by the true spirit and scope of the following claims.

As used herein, the term “about,” used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range.

Other than in the operating examples, or unless otherwise expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values and percentages such as those for amounts of materials, and others in the specification may be read as if prefaced by the word “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Furthermore, when numerical ranges of varying scope are set forth herein, it is contemplated that any combination of these values inclusive of the recited values may be used.

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed, since these embodiments are intended solely as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A garment comprising an outer shell, an inner liner, and a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club, the pocket being disposed between the outer shell and the liner.
 2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the pocket comprises a sheath comprising a closed end and an open end.
 3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the open end is attached to a downward-facing aperture in the shell or the liner.
 4. The garment of claim 2, wherein the aperture comprises a closure.
 5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a sleeve covering a portion of a wearer's arm.
 6. The garment of claim 5, wherein the sleeve covers the wearer's entire arm.
 7. The garment of claim 5, wherein the sleeve is removable.
 8. The garment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pocket and the outer shell are substantially waterproof.
 9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises an outside facing away from the liner and an inside facing the liner to define an inner space therebetween, the shell including first and second anchored portions and defining an opening in the first anchored portion, the shell also including a tensionable portion disposed between the anchored portions, wherein the shell and liner are configured for encircling the wearer.
 10. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a cinch comprising an elastic band disposed in the inner space and attached to first and second ends which are anchorable to the first and second anchored portions, respectively, such that a closed path encircling the wearer is defined through the cinch and the tensionable portion.
 11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the tensionable portion is located at a front of the abdomen section.
 12. The garment of claim 10, wherein the cinch includes an anchor securable to the first end and dimensioned larger than the first opening such that the anchor is prevented from passing through the first opening.
 13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the shell includes a pocket on the outside thereof; and the first opening is disposed inside the pocket such that the first end and the anchor are operable for releasably securing to each other from inside the pocket.
 14. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a windbreaker, a ¾-length parka, a vest, a short-sleeve pullover, a wind shirt, or a full-length coat.
 15. The garment of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a length sufficient to receive the entire length of a golf grip.
 16. The garment of claim 1, wherein sheath comprises synthetic fibers, natural fibers, fleece, plush materials, or waterproof materials.
 17. A garment comprising a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club.
 18. The garment of claim 17, wherein the pocket comprises a sheath comprising a closed end and an open end, the open end being secured to a downward-facing aperture in the garment.
 19. The garment of claim 17, wherein the garment comprises a jacket or a pullover.
 20. A golf jacket comprising: an outer shell, an inner liner, configured to circumscribe the torso of a person and to define a gap between the shell and the liner; a vertically-extending zipper; and a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club, the pocket being disposed in the gap between the shell and the liner. 